Innehållsförteckning för January 2022 från Car India

PORSCHE HAVE BEEN IN THE HEADLINES A LOT BUT THE MOST exciting one is surely their entry into the new LMDh (Daytona hybrid) category of the Le Mans endurance racing championship series. While their 919 set racetracks alight not too long ago, them pulling out of endurance racing was a sad time for motor sport. The draft regulations stated a car weight of 1,030 kg, 500 kW (680 hp) combined peak power, a single bodywork package and tyre supplier, alongside a global Balance of Performance system. The gearbox hybrid system will be supplied by Xtrac, integrated motor generator unit (MGU) by Bosch, and batteries from Williams Advanced Engineering. The chassis suppliers will be Dallara, Ligier, Multimatic and Oreca. Porsche have chosen Multimatic. The Porsche LMDh car will compete in the…

To Wait or Not to Wait? What is your opinion about the Kia Carens? Do you think it will be better than the Hyundai Alcazar? I am in the market for a three-row SUV and I would like to know if I should go for the Alcazar or wait for the Carens. Anwin T, via social media Dear Anwin, From what we got to see at the launch event, the Kia Carens holds a lot of promise. It is expected to be on a par with the Hyundai Alcazar or even slightly better. We have not driven the car yet, so we are not in a position to express an opinion. However, if you can wait for a while, there is no harm in seeing what the Carens has to…

ROAD SAFETY HAS BEEN ONE OF THE biggest concerns of our country for a very long time now. On an average, India has reported over four lakh accidents annually. While this is a cumulative figure, a large number of these catastrophes are recorded on highways and expressways. Hyundai have always been at it with their “Be the Better Guy” road safety initiative to make the country’s roads a better place. This time around, Hyundai and team Car India decided to make the people of our country more aware of the etiquette one should follow on the gigantic expressways that connect major cities. Stay within lane markings One mistake that could save a million lives. Expressways in India have at least three lanes on each side. Lane markings are made keeping…

HONESTLY, “VALUE” IS A VARIABLE concept. It’s worth holds weight depending on the perception of the beholder. Like beauty. Even so, some things run deeper and while the outside may seem an expanse of white, underneath it’s a labyrinth of effort and detail which, for the most part, is designed to go unnoticed and work — like clockwork — in the background, loyally, for years. That’s exactly what makes the new S-Class tick. It’s been generations. It’s become an icon. It’s held in high esteem and is accorded the prestige and status few others enjoy. “The best car in the world” may be a term used synonymously with a centenarian known as the “Silver Ghost” and its, um, offspring a century down the line, but, today, they toss it around…

CARS ARE BECOMING MORE AND MORE like smartphones everyday. Take this Volvo C40 Recharge: it is powered by batteries and the infotainment runs Android software. And just like a smartphone, most people will run it on an all-inclusive contract, described by Volvo as “effortless and joyful” (£729 = Rs 72,900) monthly cost apart). More pertinently, it is Volvo’s first vehicle available exclusively with electric power and the company’s first foray into the divisive world of the coupé-SUV. It will also be exclusively available to buy online — either as a cash purchase for the five per cent of people so inclined or on a lease/maintenance/warranty/insurance package called “Care by Volvo”. So, is the C40 a new iPhone that is going to take the world by storm or another Windows Phone…

IT IS INDEED A FAIR QUESTION WHETHER A seven-seater SUV is viable to live with on a daily basis. This becomes more relevant when the daily drive is within city confines. The good news is that in the last three months we have spent a lot of time with our long-term Hyundai Alcazar within city limits as well as a few highway stints. Our answer to you is a resounding yes. Despite its seven-seater large body, the SUV feels quite compact to drive and never felt cumbersome on crowded city streets. In addition, tight spots are navigated with the help of cameras and warning signals all around the vehicle. This includes the brilliant 360-degree camera that pops up while reversing the Alcazar. The engine is the same 1.5-litre diesel we…

AFTER CLINCHING THE final pole position of the year, Max Verstappen didn’t get the best start in the Red Bull and saw his title rival, Lewis Hamilton, in the Mercedes-AMG take the lead. As Lando Norris in the McLaren Mercedes ran very wide, Sergio Perez in the other Red Bull made it to third place. Carlos Sainz in the Ferrari also managed to get a good start and was soon battling with the second Mercedes of Valtteri Bottas. At the Turn Nine hairpin, Max made a pass on the inside of Hamilton, but Hamilton turned in and the duo almost touched. The radio chatter of whether Hamilton would have to give up the place resounded. On the 14th of 58 laps, Verstappen made his first — and presumably the only…

TOYOTA AND LEXUS HAVE ANNOUNCED THEIR FOCUS ON creating even cleaner carbon-neutral vehicles. The company’s president, Akio Toyoda, outlined Toyota’s strategy for achieving carbon neutrality ― particularly for battery electric vehicles which represent one of the most promising options. Achieving carbon neutrality means realizing a world in which all people living on this planet continue to live happily. For that challenge, they need to reduce CO2 emission as much as possible and as soon as possible. A diversified world and an era in which it is hard to predict the future make it difficult to make everyone happy with a one-size-fits-all option. That’s why Toyota want to prepare as many options as possible for customers around the world. Thus, electrified vehicles will be divided into two categories, depending on the…

THE NEW GRECALE MID-SIZE SUV FROM THE Italian marque has been shown in a form closer to production. Little is known at this point except that it will sit below the Levante and offer an engaging blend of luxury and sporty performance. naming their offerings after winds is a Maserati tradition and Grecale is the strong, cool, Mediterranean wind that brings with it a whole new wave of technology, performance, and design feats. The Grecale was scheduled to be revealed at the end of 2021 but we expect a formal unveiling soon. It will be built at Cassino in Italy, where an investment of about €800 million (Rs 6,880 crore, approx) is planned.…

1 GLOBAL HERITAGE The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan is a very adaptable vehicle. This large five-seater SUV can comfortably accommodate passengers and their belongings. It has a lot of fans globally. The fact that it has crossed the six-million-unit production mark bears eloquent testimony to this. As a result, the Tiguan is the Volkswagen Group’s bestselling vehicle. Fun fact: Volkswagen make the Tiguan across three continents and four time-zones. Last year, a brand-new Tiguan came off the assembly line every 35 seconds on average at one of the company’s Tiguan plants. Being a success globally, this SUV has stayed true to its original design and form factor, but has just been sharpened around the edges. 2 STYLE STATEMENT The Tiguan is a stylish, powerful, and intelligent vehicle for the year 2022.…

Always wear your seatbelt when inside the car Always look into your rear-view mirrors before changing lanes Stay before lane markings Indicate while changing lanes Move back to the centre lane after overtaking Overtake only when lane markings are intermittent, not when they’re solid Overtake only from the right Keep a distance of 25 metres between you and the car ahead of you Change lanes well in advance to avoid collisions Do not use hazard lights while going through tunnels Keep an eye out for speed limits…

WHAT STIRS YOU? STIRS YOUR SOUL. STIRS YOUR BELIEFS into reawakening with a renewed vigour. Is there a creation that can trigger an emotion you haven’t felt in a long time? Some can evoke feelings often believed to be lost. Some evolve and transcend the boundaries of convention and expression. It takes a special something to manage that. And some cars manage to do just that. The executive segment is bustling with activity globally and there are many premium players — if not all of them in India — vying for a piece of that coveted pie. The Mercedes E-Class rules the roost here. It’s been the brand’s bestseller and, in long-wheelbase avatar, brings a lot of car to the table. However, its advantage is limited to its length and…

IT IS A WATERSHED — THE FIRST ELECTRIC RACING PROTOTYPE PORSCHE HAVE SH A RED WITH THE WORLD HALF A DOZEN ENGINEERS stand there, arms crossed, as the car rolls up to the charger. The 405 freeway rushes by in the background, maybe 100 metres away, six lanes in each direction. Half a mile in the distance, the 110 freeway does the same thing. The racket of combustion-engine traffic is cacophonous — so loud, in fact, that it can be heard inside a helmet, with earplugs, over the soft hum of the electric Porsche at “idle”. The Porsche Experience Center Los Angeles is located at the intersection of two of the busiest freeways in Southern California. The device we are here to test is neither a racing car nor an…

HYUNDAI HAVE ANNOUNCED their electric onslaught formally and are set to introduce half a dozen new battery electric vehicles (BEV) in India over the next six years. Their recently introduced dedicated modular electric platform, E-GMP, will underpin all the new vehicles. The E-GMP is based on four “pillars” as follows: Modularity, wherein the single platform can facilitate many body types, feature a modular battery system, and create greater synergies with component sharing; reliability, with a low centre of gravity, use of UHSS (ultrahigh-strength steel), and an eight-point battery mounting; usability, with a flat floor, a flexible seating layout, innovative cabin, sliding console and second-row seats; and performance, with a large battery capacity of up to 77.4 kWh, two- or four-wheel drive capability, improved handling, and a top speed of up…

MERCEDES PRESENTED THEIR ALL-NEW CONCEPT car for the future, the Vision EQXX. It’s a bold step forward for the brand as it has some big targets that have, more or less, taken real-world shape. The EQXX promises to be all one needs. No more. No less. It uses a lighter, smaller, and more advanced battery pack that will still offer a driving range of more than 1,000 kilometres with a consumption figure of nearly 10 km/kWh. The design breaks new ground in aerodynamic efficiency with a drag coefficient of just 0.17. It aims to use clean, carbon-neutral energy and is built to maximize efficiency overall. It even uses solar panels on the roof to assist with various functions. The design of the EQXX resembles a swoopy four-door coupé, like the…

Bavaria’s flagship electric saloon is on its way to production. The new i7 is now out testing and should be formally launched by the end of this year. The new electric 7 Series model, set to bear the “i7” name, should have similar proportions as its combustion counterpart 7, with a length just over five metres and a wheelbase of more than three metres. The BMW i7 has preliminary WLTP data of between 22.5 and 19.5 kWh/100 km or between 4.4 and 5.1 km/kWh with driving CO2 emissions of 0 g/km. It will be equipped with a battery pack with an energy density in the region of 100 kWh. The BMW i7 is now entering its final phase with the car undergoing a demanding test programme in a series of…

BMW iX xDrive40 Launched with a price tag of Rs 1.16 crore (ex-showroom), the new BMW iX is the Bavarian marque’s first premium electric SUV in the market. Similar in size to the X5, the new iX is the large electric SUV. Interesting features inside and outside include sensors on the kidney grille, camera and radar tech, flush-fit doorhandles, integrated speakers, and a Head-up Display with a projector. Then there’s the BMW Curved Glass display, race-inspired hexagonal steering wheel, “Sky Lounge” panoramic glass roof, multi-functional seats with bespoke leather upholstery, and ambient lighting, among other features. The iX gets BMW i’s fifth-generation eDrive with an integrated drive unit powered by two electric motors, one for the front axle and the other for the rear one. In the xDrive40, this is…

THE DUTCH LUXURY CAR TYRE MAKERS, Vredestein, are not new to India but with an increase in localization, the company is aiming to capture at least a 20-plus per cent share of the premium tyre market. Recently, they introduced two products in our country: the Ultrac and the Ultrac Vorti. The former is aimed at the premium car segment while the latter is meant specifically for luxury cars. Vredestein launched these tyres at a swanky event in Mumbai and followed it up with a racetrack experience. Vredestein take the design of their tyres seriously. So much so that they enlist the services of the reputed Italian design house, Italdesign Giugiaro S.p.A. They proudly claim that their tyres make the car look good rather than vice-versa and, personally, I must say…

NOT MANY CARS IMPRESS from the get-go. The Volkswagen Tiguan is back in a five-seat form and this time it packs a petrol engine. The new model is a global update and we’ve got it here pretty soon. The best part is that it’s made right here in India. Based on the MQB (Modularer Querbaukasten or Modular tool-kit) architecture which underpins several VW Groups cars, including premium luxury offerings, the Tiguan offers no-nonsense modern styling with exceptional build quality and finish, complete with a spacious and functional interior with several thoughtful elements. There are some evident accessories and some not-so ones as well, primarily the cross roof-rails with the surfboard storage unit. While that looks like an aero disaster, rest assured it is extremely lightweight and didn’t affect the vehicle’s…

THIS IS THE SOUPED-UP VERSION OF Mercedes-Benz’s popular A-Class sedan which was launched in India early in 2021. What makes this one special is that it’s not just another AMG model to be assembled right here in India but, at Rs 57.58 lakh (ex-showroom), it’s the most affordable one too. This definitely gives ‘more power’ to the ‘Make in India’ initiative. The Mercedes-AMG A 35 4MATIC does deliver the performance promised with the 2.0-litre turbo-petrol churning out 306 hp at 5,800 rpm and a mighty 400 Nm of torque which peaks between 3,000 and 4,000 rpm. For this extra dose of performance, you’ll have to shell out about Rs 17 lakh over the standard A-Class sedan, but, trust me, it’s worth every rupee. Top-class engineers at Affalterbach have made sure…

HOW IS YOUR COGNITIVE DISSONANCE SCORE? Your ability, that is, to hold two contradictory beliefs simultaneously. Mine has gone through the roof after getting a good workout from the Black Badge version of the Rolls-Royce Ghost. When Rolls-Royce say the Black Badge version of the Ghost is for radicals and subversives, your first response is to say: no, it’s not, it’s for the kids of the very rich people or for the kid inside those very rich people. And when Rolls call the Black Badge Ghost minimalist, you may find yourself making a note to send a dictionary to Goodwood for Christmas. Similarly, assertions that it is “dynamic” must surely be made with tongue in cheek. Yet, when you drive the Black Badge Ghost — this 2.5-tonne, 6.75-litre V12-powered, all-wheel-drive,…

1985: Porsche 962C Remarkably comfortable; the Mazda 787 I tried several years after was a torture chamber by comparison. Fast and all-day easy at nine-tenths. Above that, you had better be on your game. As Le Mans prototypes go, I am told this is an easy one. Mission R cockpit feels about as roomy, with similar proportions. 1984: Porsche-Fabcar 935 Something like 900 hp at max boost in a 900-kg package. I tried it at 0.7 bar; a still mental 700 hp. A tube-framed, rear-engine car with wonderfully judged suspension, but also at least three seconds of throttle lag. 1967: 911 S (Daytona winner) Back when you could win your class at Daytona with a warmed-over road car. Few things are as delightful as an early, short-wheelbase 911 S with…